My AM Skincare Routine

Hey lovelies,

I thought it might be a good time to share my skincare routine - if you know me personally, you'll know that I am ALL ABOUT skincare. I have a multi-step routine using both Asian and Western products, and I'd love to share this with you and answer any questions. First, I'll start with my AM routine. My morning routine focuses on making sure that my skin is hydrated and smooth, and ready for makeup if I'm wearing any that day.

Step 1: Rinse face with Konjac Sponge + water.

A konjac sponge is a handy little tool that is rapidly gaining popularity with mainstream brands. Originally from Japan, many Western beauty companies such as EcoTools and Thin Lizzy now sell their own versions. Made of konjac root fibers, it's very soft and gentle on the face - it has this smooth, squishy texture that makes rubbing it around on your face kind of fun. You can use it with just water or with facewash. They also come in different 'flavours', such as charcoal, green tea, mint, etc depending on the brand of sponge you purchase - mine is unflavoured. I got mine for about $8 from Ippondo, a specialty Japanese beauty store.

Step 2: Vitamin C Serum.

This stuff is the powerhouse of my AM routine - Vitamin C is scientifically proven to reduce inflammation, reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation and even improve the appearance of wrinkles. Not that the last one is of concern to me just yet, but I hope it shows you how potent Vitamin C is. I use the new C21.5 Serum from OST, which is available at WishTrend*.

Step 3: Toner.

You might recognise this toner from my previous review on it here. I really only use a couple drops of this in the morning compared to how much of it I use at night. If I'm feeling lazy, I combine this with the next step by mixing them both in my hand before applying to my face. I bought this off of eBay.

Step 4: Essence.

The Benton Snail Bee Essence is easily the most hyped up product I've ever used. Having said that, I do enjoy using it - I notice that my pimples heal faster when I use this. However, I don't break out too much anymore so I'm questioning the value of having this in my routine. It doesn't really provide any additional moisture, however it is very soothing on irritated skin. I purchase mine from RoseRoseShop.

I rotate between these two Bioré sunscreens, depending on if I plan to wear makeup that day and which foundation I'll be wearing. The UV Perfect Face Milk is quite siliconey and can double as a primer. It's also very mattifying, however it leaves a white cast so I tend to wear it under makeup. The Aqua Riche is definitely more for makeup free days. I buy both of these off of eBay.

So there you have it! Feel free to comment with any questions about these products!